Name Tomomitsu Niimi | ||
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Similar Hideo Murai, Fumihiro Joyu, Shoko Asahara Born 9 March 1964 (age 54), Japan Died 6 July 2018 (aged 54) Osaka, Japan | ||
Tomomitsu Niimi (新実 智光, Niimi Tomomitsu, 9 March 1964 – 6 July 2018) was a former Aum Shinrikyo member convicted for his participation in the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway and a number of other crimes. He was Aum's "minister of internal affairs".
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Background
Judge Yujiro Nakatani said that his Aum-related crimes began in 1989 with the strangulation killing of Shuji Taguchi, who had attempted to flee from the cult. He also strangled Tsutsumi Sakamoto and Tatsuhiko, his 1-year-old son the same year.
Tokyo subway sarin attack
Before the Tokyo subway gas attack, Asahara wanted to try the sarin gas on humans. He chose his rival, Daisaku Ikeda, the leader of Soka Gakkai, one of Japan's most popular "new religions." Asahara directed his men to rig a spraying device on a suitable vehicle at one of the nights when Ikeda was supposed to speak in public. All was going well until the device sprung a leak, splashing liquid sarin onto Tomomitsu Niimi, Asahara's security chief. Fortunately for Niimi, Kiyohide Hayakawa was present and quickly administered an antidote in time to prevent Niimi's nervous system from shutting down.
Together with Ikuo Hayashi, Niimi participated in the subway gas attack (there were several other perpetrators as well): Hayashi delivered the sarin-filled package and pierced it with a sharpened umbrella tip, while Niimi served as a car driver.
Legal proceedings
Tomomitsu Niimi was eventually convicted of murder and other terrorism charges. Niimi was subsequently sentenced to Death by hanging. Unlike other former Aum members involved in criminal acts, Niimi delivered no apologies and stoically accepted the death sentence. During one of his earlier court hearings Niimi proclaimed his "absolute faith" in Shoko Asahara, Aum Shinrikyo's founder, and spoke about various levels of 'enlightenments' he had been able to experience during his religious trainings in Aum. He then spoke about human sufferings, saying that "some are suffering thinking that this world is illusory and some thinking that it is real. Concerning the former members who now testify against their guru [Asahara] who did them so much good, I believe their suffering is based on the perceptions that this world is real".
Death
Niimi was among the first 7 of the Aum Shinrikyo members on death row to be executed on 6 July 2018, including leader Shoko Asahara. Relatives of victims said they approve of the execution. Human Rights Watch however disapproved of the hangings.